Request a dropped kerb or H marking

To have a dropped kerb or vehicle crossing, you will need to get approval from the council to carry out works to the highway. You may also need planning permission for the works.

Crossings can be installed by Blackpool Council or by a council approved contractor that has:

• Public liability insurance of up to £10 million
• Up to date and valid street works accreditation

Unclassified roads

Your property must have a parking area with a minimum depth of 4.8 meters (or 6 meters if parking in front of a garage door) and a minimum width of 2.4 meters.

This ensures vehicles can park entirely within your property without overhanging the pavement.

Classified roads

There are further considerations for vehicle access on classified roads. Please contact us for further information.

Parking spaces parallel to the road are not allowed for the following reasons:

• Safety concerns - vehicles parked parallel often overhang the pavement, causing obstructions and safety hazards for pedestrians
• Preservation of green spaces - to maintain neighborhood aesthetics and comply with the council's Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy, no more than half of front gardens should be used for parking

• Obstruction of pavements is illegal - It is unlawful to block or overhang the pavement with a vehicle. This can impede pedestrian access and poses safety risks. Enforcement is carried out by the police
• No removal of public assets - Vehicle crossings must not require the removal or relocation of council-owned trees, grass verges, lighting columns, street furniture, or bus stops
• Traffic regulations - Applications that would necessitate amendments to existing Traffic Regulation Orders (e.g., parking restrictions) cannot be approved

Compliance is mandatory, driving across a footway or verge without an approved vehicle crossing is illegal.

Existing crossings that do not meet current standards do not set a precedent for new applications. Each application is assessed individually based on current policies.

Typically, the construction works involved to create a single width dropped crossing will cost more than £1,000. In addition to this, you will need to pay for the following:

• A site visit by a council highways surveyor to establish the works to the highway that are required and the likely cost of the scheme. The fee for this is £68
• A supervision fee of £190 (domestic) or £255 (commercial/flats) if the works are carried out by an approved contractor rather than the council
• A road marking fee of £170 if a 4.5m wide H-bar-marking is required in addition to the dropped crossing. If a wider H-bar-marking is required, this will be charged at £2.50 per additional metre

You may also need to pay a planning application fee if planning permission is required.

Note: For H-bars and white lines, please see “Getting a H-bar white line marking” section below.

1. The first step is to complete an application form which you can request by emailing highwaysandtraffic@blackpool.gov.uk. This should then be returned to the same email address
2. You will also need to pay the application fee of £68. You can pay this over the phone by calling 01253 478412. Your application will not be considered until this fee has been paid
3. The council’s highways team will notify the council’s planning team of your application. If planning permission is required for your proposal, you will be notified. Please note: this is a separate process that would require a separate application subject to its own fee
4. The highways team will consider your proposal against the council’s adopted standards and guidance
5. If your application for a dropped kerb is approved by the council’s highways team, you will be notified in writing and provided with a quote for the council to carry out the works
6. If you wish to proceed with your quotation and have the council carry out the works, you will need to email highwaysandtraffic@blackpool.gov.uk and pay the amount quoted. You can contact the highways team on 01253 478412 or Customer First on 01253 477477 to make your payment
7. The work will be scheduled and can take up to 6 weeks to be carried out. Any wall needs to be removed before the work can start. No works will be carried out unless payment has been made
8. If you wish to employ an outside contractor they will need to email highwaysandtraffic@blackpool.gov.uk to request the relevant form
9. These forms will need to be completed and returned with proof of the public liability and up to date insurance (the minimum public liability we need is £10 million). The supervision fee also needs to be paid on submission of the form.
   1. If it is a domestic household the fee is £190
   2. If it is a commercial property the fee is £255

No works will be carried out unless payment has been made.

H-bar markings are white lines that are marked on the road in front of a vehicle access or driveway. They are used to remind drivers not to park in front of the access because they would cause an obstruction.

'H' bars are a nationally recognised marking and can assist the police and Blackpool Council parking enforcement officers to issue fixed penalty notices for obstruction.

However, it is not necessary for an H-bar marking to be in place for enforcement action to be taken because any parking in front of a dropped kerb constitutes obstruction.

There is a cost of £170 for the installation of a standard H-bar marking of up to 4.5 m. Every additional metre is charged at £2.50.

If you are proceeding with a dropped kerb quote, please specify if you also want an H-bar marking. If you would like an H-bar marking for an existing dropped crossing, please email traffic.management@blackpool.gov.uk.

Enforcement

To report an issue please contact the parking enforcement team directly on 01253 476395, your details will be required to pursue any enforcement action.